Drunk and disorderly - foul mouthed Bangkok bus driver caught on tape after accident

[rooster59]

Drunk and disorderly - foul mouthed Bangkok bus driver caught on tape after accident

Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: A Bangkok bus driver with a load of passengers admitted he was drunk in charge of his vehicle Friday after a clip of his rude and insulting behavior went viral on social media.

The BMTA has promised swift action against the driver and the company he worked for.

The clip features an altercation between the driver Manat Makhamthong and a private car driver after the two vehicles had been involved in a side swiping collision. A slanging match breaks out with both drivers using strong language as passengers on the Route 17 look on. As the car driver films and insults are traded the bus driver is asked if he is drunk. He denies he is drunk but soon smacks the phone out of the car driver's hand.

Following the storm on social media the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority investigated and announced that Route 17, which plies between the Thonburi side of Bangkok and Ploenchit, is operated by the Krung Thep Bus Air company. Driver Manat later admitted that he was drunk on duty and was responsible for the collision. He further admitted his impolite behavior as evidenced by the clip.

The BMTA has called for his immediate suspension while warning the company about their responsibilities and operations. Manat and representatives of the company are due to meet with BMTA officials to discuss punishment and further investigate the incident.

Source: Thairath

-- 2016-05-21

[Mango Bob]

Bus 17 is one of the worse in the area. I been on it when the driver got mad because passengers wanted the drive to pull up a little to avoid a pool of water. The driver got mad and when to the next stop. Hope they fire the SOB.

Edited May 20, 2016 by Mango Bob

[colinneil]

Meeting to discuss his punishment, is that some kind of joke?

He admitted to being drunk, call the police, get him charged with drunk driving,EASY.

[ezzra]

This time the passengers were lucky as it only ended in a small accident and a verbal altercations,

next time it could end up with an over turned bus or smashed up against a poll or a wall.......

The BMTA should do a lot more to insure the safety of all passengers by paying more attention

to how's driving their busses.....

[petedk]

Meeting to discuss his punishment, is that some kind of joke?

He admitted to being drunk, call the police, get him charged with drunk driving,EASY.

1000 baht fine

1 week suspension.

Or something like that.

[whatproblem]

It's only a poor persons bus ,it's not likely to be driving VIPs around .he should be in jail and loose his job and licence

[Assurancetourix]

This time the passengers were lucky as it only ended in a small accident and a verbal altercations,

next time it could end up with an over turned bus or smashed up against a poll or a wall.......

The BMTA should do a lot more to insure the safety of all passengers by paying more attention

to how's driving their busses.....

Not only that;

have a look at the bus; it looks like rubbish, that it is ..

Nearly all the buses in town and countryside lines should be in a scrapyard ;

The buses I was driving 45 years ago where in a better condition that what I can see here in Thailand in 2016 .

[dotpoom]

Meeting to discuss his punishment, is that some kind of joke?

He admitted to being drunk, call the police, get him charged with drunk driving,EASY.

" He denies he is drunk but soon smacks the phone out of the car driver's hand."

[dddave]

Meeting to discuss his punishment, is that some kind of joke?

He admitted to being drunk, call the police, get him charged with drunk driving,EASY.

1000 baht fine

1 week suspension.

Or something like that.

Maybe so, but at least in Thailand there are some consequences.

In the US, I owned a logistics company and operated a fleet of vans and trucks. If a driver was found to be "DUI" during working hours, I was forbidden by state law from firing him. Instead, I had to pay for mandatory alcohol or drug rehab. and ongoing counseling after...all while having to give him sick pay.

All my fault for giving the poor baby a stressful job.........One of the reasons I sold out and retired early when I had the chance.

[Kabula]

The driver should read the book, 'the dance of anger.' Displaced anger no doubt, combined with sleep deprivation and Thai Whiskey perhaps.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

SUSPENSION???.No damn it,dismissal,dismissal i say,and let that be a lesson to the miscreant.Two weeks in the stocks and lopping of ears.There is no sufficient punishment strong enough for such a crime,where the safety of the public is at risk by an inebriated cretin who is meant to be protecting their safety.

OHHH! bring back Judge Jefferies.

[Brer Fox]

Why aren't the police breathalysing bus divers along with other motorists in Bangkok city and provincial cities. I constantly ride these buses and suspect by the quality of driving they would find more drunk busdrivers percentage wise than other road users. Another option would be for the bus companies to breatho them at the time of clocking on.

[Mickmouse1]

I would say make him pay for few rounds of LEO ???????

[sanukjim]

This time the passengers were lucky as it only ended in a small accident and a verbal altercations,

next time it could end up with an over turned bus or smashed up against a poll or a wall.......

The BMTA should do a lot more to insure the safety of all passengers by paying more attention

to how's driving their busses.....

If a Thai passenger smells alcohol on a buss driver they will not turn him in because it is deemed impolite to imply that another Thai is in the wrong and if he found out who it was he might go berserk and hurt someone..I have gotten out of taxis when smelling alcohol and if the driver offers any argument I start taking photos and dialing the police.Thais will normally do nothing but take it.

[Redline]

Nothing will happen

[mrwebb8825]

Why aren't the police breathalysing bus divers along with other motorists in Bangkok city and provincial cities. I constantly ride these buses and suspect by the quality of driving they would find more drunk busdrivers percentage wise than other road users. Another option would be for the bus companies to breatho them at the time of clocking on.

If they did that they would be forced to arrest him and then they would be responsible for an idle bus in traffic and the passengers - breath testing before the shift wouldn't help as they drink it in their drink cups during work with the attendant.

[Jonmarleesco]

'Manat and representatives of the company are due to meet with BMTA officials to discuss punishment ...' There's the obvious punishment, and there's the Thai version. Odds-on which it will be.

[Brer Fox]

Why aren't the police breathalysing bus divers along with other motorists in Bangkok city and provincial cities. I constantly ride these buses and suspect by the quality of driving they would find more drunk busdrivers percentage wise than other road users. Another option would be for the bus companies to breatho them at the time of clocking on.

If they did that they would be forced to arrest him and then they would be responsible for an idle bus in traffic and the passengers - breath testing before the shift wouldn't help as they drink it in their drink cups during work with the attendant.

Nice of you to make all the excuses for the pisshead bus drivers. Maybe should try travelling on the Bangkok bus services yourself sometime.

Then you will find out what it is like to be on a bus with a driver who thinks he is racing at Le Mans then drops you off in the middle of the road while the bus is still rolling to let you run the gauntlet of inside lane motorcycle speedsters before you get to the safety of the curb.

Riding on Bangkok buses is a life and death experience. Especially getting on and getting off them. But then anything one does in Thailand can be a life or near death experience.

[Lannig]

Funny that the picture in the headline of the Thairat article has his face pixellated but the full video is available with his face clearly visible just below.
Nice collection of Thai insults BTW... didn't know all of them

[samsensam]

route 17 challenging for route 8's worst bus route in bangkok title

[thai3]

Last time I got the 17 I paid before the bus pulled away from the stop. Before it did a truck ran into the back of it and we all had to get off, got another number